The historic SBB workshops, the centrepiece of Ticino’s industrial history, are making way for a district that serves as a model for sustainable urban development, an innovative mix of uses and high-quality living spaces. The political, economic and urban development significance of the project extends far beyond the borders of Bellinzona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Historical continuity Participatory guiding process Urban structure, mix and development phases The striking “cathedral”, a listed building dating from 1919, will remain as a cultural magnet and will be transformed into a meeting and event<\/span> venue. A worthy perspective for a landmark of industrial labour culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n A real laboratory of urban change Special attention is paid to intergenerational housing models, educational and research facilities, start-up promotion and the new innovation<\/span> park, which will give Bellinzona a model character and regional appeal In the centre of Bellinzona, between the railway station area and the old town, an area that has been characterised by industry for decades is being transformed into a multi-layered urban development zone. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":144233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_surecart_dashboard_logo_width":"180px","_surecart_dashboard_show_logo":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_orders":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_invoices":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_subscriptions":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_downloads":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_billing":true,"_surecart_dashboard_navigation_account":true,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22358,12485,12487,39679],"tags":[55474,12525,12526,12847,12528,39701],"class_list":["post-144232","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-construction","category-projects-en","category-regions-en","category-standorte-en","tag-arealtransformation","tag-immoinvest-en","tag-immonews-en","tag-nachhaltigkeit-en","tag-news-en","tag-stadtentwicklung-en"],"acf":{"bild_mit_ki_erstellt_worden":"","lead":"In the centre of Bellinzona, between the railway station area and the old town, an area that has been characterised by industry for decades is being transformed into a multi-layered urban development zone. ","autor":"Quelle immoInvest","ort":"","bildunterschrift":"","bild_im_grid":false,"gallerie":"","newsim":"","zusammenfassung":""},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/quartiere-petralli-comparto-municipio-centro-verdi-posteggi-pr-officine-1962p-e1763711030515-336x168.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144232","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144232"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144232\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stage.immo-invest.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/strong>The SBB offices have shaped the city centre for more than a century, providing thousands of jobs and an independent industrial identity. The relocation and replacement construction of the SBB industrial facilities in Arbedo-Castione by 2028 will create a rare development opportunity in the centre of Bellinzona. Over 100,000 square metres will be freed up for a comprehensive urban redevelopment, with a balance between tradition, innovation<\/span> and strategic urban development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The redesign of the site is based entirely on participatory processes. The development process began with an international urban planning competition. Five European planning teams competed against each other, with the “Porta del Ticino – Urban Living Lab” project ultimately coming out on top thanks to its bold use of green space, multifunctionality and attractive density. Public consultations and a broad-based residents’ dialogue ensured broad acceptance and political backing. A representative survey showed that 65 per cent of the population supported the winning concept. Younger generations in particular have high expectations of innovation<\/span> and quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The masterplan concept envisages a clear linear tripartite structure for the site. Two peripheral zones combine flats, cooperatives, administrative and research uses, universities, commercial and hotel facilities. In the centre, the spacious Almenda will be a public green and meeting space that will serve as a social, cultural and ecological focus. The implementation period for the realisation of the district extends over several years in order to gradually create lively, resilient living, working and research landscapes. This guarantees flexible management of market dynamics and avoids vacancies or excessive property yield orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The development plan commits to the highest sustainability standards, with the aim of achieving the Swiss Sustainable Building Standard (SNBS<\/span>). Fossil fuels are excluded, and comprehensive photovoltaics and greenery, rainwater utilisation in the spirit of the “sponge city”, energy-efficient district heating and active promotion of electromobility are integral components. An energy plan supports the objective of covering a large part of the neighbourhood’s electricity requirements locally. Wide green spaces, biodiversity, urban gardening<\/span>, resource-saving construction methods and low-emission mobility round off the ecological profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Model character and regional appeal
<\/strong>The project combines socio-cultural values, sustainable infrastructure, entrepreneurial innovation<\/span> and ambitious living and quality of life to create a new urban “engine” for the region. With its combination of participatory governance, versatile utilisation options and resilient open spaces, Bellinzona is setting exemplary standards for Swiss and European urban development in the coming decades.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"